Never Judge

The week had gone by peacefully, too quiet for Cedric's taste making him feel quite anxious. Both Mae's and Camilla's one week were nearing its end and Cedric was getting worried about all of his pieces that were in play.

He was more than willing to risk everything just to protect the future that he was building for his son and his unborn child. 

"How are all of our plans going?" Cedric asked as Dave entered his room with a tablet and a few documents in his arms. 

"All of the deals were successfully closed and we have deployed our teams to the different companies that have agreed to cooperate with us." Dave reported as he placed the stack of documents on Cedric's desk and switched on the tablet to show Cedric the report that everything had been closed as Cedric had ordered.

"Really?" Cedric asked as he took the tablet from Dave and scrolled through the report. "It feels odd that everything has just gone smoothly." 

"The companies and their owners trust you." Ian said with a shrug as he entered the room, joining Cedric and Dave. "Ever since you took over as the head of the Reyes Clan, the outlook of the company has become even better. Don't you read the reports or listen to the news?" Ian asked.

"I just find it awkward whenever they talk about me or the company." Cedric said with a shrug as he handed the tablet back to Dave.

"Well, you should listen more." Ian said with a shrug as he switched on the TV and placed it on the news.

The jingle of the local news show played through the speakers of the TV as Ian sat down on the couch and made the volume louder.

"Today on the business end of things, the Reyes Group has just signed a deal with over fifty companies in various industries." A female reporter said on air, as images of various representatives of the Reyes Group shaking hands and signing deals with various company owners.

"The CEO of the Reyes Group was not at the various ceremonies, but he did issue this statement." The reporter said as the statement from the Reyes Group flashed on the screen. 

"It reads, we at the Reyes Group are looking forward to the development of the nation's economy as a whole. The Reyes Group will always be home to promising and hopeful businessmen that seek to better our country, we will be with them at every step of the way." The reporter said, reading through the statement.

"The Reyes Group will not only be investing in these companies, but we will also be sharing with them our non-monetary resources. They will be guided by the best in the industry as they grow to reach their full potential. Mr. Cedric Reyes has always believed in diversity and the treatment of every person as an equal individual. It is with this that he looks at people based on their ability and potential, unbiased by race, religion, gender, or nationality. We at the Reyes Group will support all of these companies equally." The reporter read as the statement ended.

The screen once more showed the reporter with an image of R Tower in the background. 

"Since taking the reins of the Reyes Group we have see the company growing and diversifying faster than ever. They have taken their local domination of the market and expanded it internationally, creating a representative of the country in the business world." The reporter said.

"According to unconfirmed reports, this international expansion is because of the tight knit cooperation between Mr. Cedric Reyes and his cousins, Ms. Marie Mendiola and Mr. Ace Reyes, who have become the heads of the international division of the Reyes Group." Cedric couldn't help but smile at the reporter's words. 

It was true, if it were not for his good relationship with his cousins the international expansion of the Reyes Group would have failed. It was the cooperation between all of them that had such amazing results. It was also the reason why both Ace and Marie hadn't been able to come home lately.

"See, they are singing praises about you on the news." Ian said with a laugh. "This isn't even the Abad News yet, you should hear them, it's like Ram is writing the reports himself." Ian teased. 

"In other news, a new player has been growing stronger, earning more investments and mimicking the Reyes Group in it's inter industry expansion." The reporter said as an image of Lucius Ting flashed on the screen.

"Don't turn it off." Cedric told Ian as he saw his friend reach for the remote.

"The Arch Group is owned and managed by Mr. Lucius Ting, someone who has recently been confirmed to be a member of the Chan family, the owners of Saints Hospital." The reporter explained as an image of Saints Hospital flashed behind him. 

"Rumors have circulated that his relatives have used their connections to help him get all the support he needs both in the business world and in the political one. This is what he had to say." The reporter read as the screen shifted to an interview of Lucius Ting.

It seemed to be one of him when he was leaving the party at the Reyes Mansion, Cedric could recognize its walls with ivy crawling up them. 

"No, my relatives have not helped me at all in any way or form." Lucius Ting said with a smile as he turned to face the camera. "All that I have, I worked for on my own. I am not backed by a powerful family, nor did I inherit any of my money, I worked hard for this."

"Sir, is it true that you are a member of the Chan family?" A reporter asked Lucius. 

Lucius smiled at the camera and nodded.

"Yes, I am." He said with a sad smile. "They are my flesh and blood and yet they have chosen to cast me aside. I was placed up for adoption in Italy, where my parents, my adoptive parents found me and raised me as their own. I only recently came to learn of my relation to them."

"So will you be rejoining the Chan family?" Another reporter asked. "They have the connections you need."

"I will continue to do as I have always done and strive to achieve what is best on my own." Lucius said. "That is all." He announced as he ducked and got in the car.

Ian switched off the TV and shook his head.

"I swear, he always gets on my nerves." Ian said with a sigh. 

"It's alright. We'll talk to Camilla and Benedict tomorrow and I hope they have good news for us." Cedric said as he signed some documents Dave had handed him.

"Tomorrow, you are coming to work tomorrow?" Dave asked as he gave Ian a confused look.

"He forgot!" Ian said with a laugh as Cedric raised an eyebrow at him. "Adrianna is going to be so mad."

"What?" Cedric asked his two assistants.

"Ced, it's Yoyo's first day in school tomorrow, you are supposed to take him then go to the hospital with Adri for a check up." Ian reminded him. "How could you forget?"

Cedric closed his eyes and shook his head, Ian was right, how could he forget such an important day?